First aid kit container



April 7, 1970 B. F. BROCKWAY 3,504,787

FIRST AID KIT CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1968 INVENTOK BROCK F BROCKWAY FlG 1 ATTORNEYS April 7, 1970 B. F. BROCKWAY FIRST AID KIT CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1968 FIG 4 INVENTOR. BROCK F BROCKWAY ATTORNEYS United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container for a first aid kit that opens along diagonals of two opposed sides so as to afford easier access to the contents of the container. Resilient clips are provided for retaining first aid items within the container. Because each half of thecontainer has two triangular sides, the utility of the container for purposes other than that intended is reduced.

This invention relates to a container for a first aid kit of the type having uniformly sized packages of first aid items.

The first aid kit container of the present invention is of generally parallellpiped configuration when in a closed position. The box is formed of two similarly shaped halves, between which halves a line of separation extends diagonally along two opposed rectangular panels of the box so that when the box is opened the articles in the box are exposed for easy removal.

A feature and advantage of a container wherein opening or separation is achieved diagonally across two opposed ides is that in the open condition and the contents are readily accessible, an important characteristic in first aid kits where rapid access to the contents is desirable.

A further feature and advantage is that when the box is in the open condition each section or half of the box is formed of only four sides, two rectangular and two triangular. Consequently the container in the open position is not a particularly suitable container for small hand tools, fishing tackle or the like, with the result that utilization for a container for anything other than first aid supplies is discouraged. Such discouragement increases the likelihood that the first aid kit and its contents of first aid supplies will be available when needed.

Another feature and advantage of a container formed according to the present invention is that one section of the container, when the container is attached to a vertical surface, forms a shelf that is supported at the sides by the previously mentioned triangular panels. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of resilient fingers is provided interior of the box in spaced relation to the panel that forms the shelf, and these fingers engage the individual packages of the first aid items so as to retain the items in place.

The foregoing, together with other objects, features and advantages, will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first aid kit container according to the present invention in an open condition;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the container with portions broken away to reveal internal details;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the container; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 12 indicates generally the base section of a first aid kit container according to the present invention, and reference numeral 14 indicates generally the cover section that is hingedly mounted to the base section by a hinge member 16. Base section 12 is formed by a rear panel 18,

3,504,787 Patented Apr. 7, 1970 a bottom panel 20 extending generally normal of the rear panel, and a pair of side panels 22. The side panels rigidly support bottom panel 20 with respect to rear panel 18 so that the bottom panel can support packages P of first aid items, e.g., adhesive tape, knuckle bands, medicated ointment, antiseptic pads, etc. The packages are retained in place against vibration and the like by resilient fingers 24 that extend outwardly from rear panel 18. The resilient fingers are parallelly spaced from bottom panel 20 by an amount approximately equal to the length of each package P.

Cover section 14 has a front panel 26, a top panel 28 extending generally normal to the front panel, and a pair of triangular side panels 30. Side panels 30- are joined to the lateral edges of the front and top panels to alford rigidity to the cover section so that when the container is in an open condition, as in FIG. 1, top panel 28 forms a horizontal shelf, for supporting one or more packages, such as package P.

Along three edges of cover section 14, the outer edges of panel 28, and the two side panels 30, is formed a channel 32 for receiving therein a lip 34 that is formed around the periphery of cover section 12. Channel 32 is defined by confronting faces of an inner flange 36 and an outer flange 38. The flanges are spaced from one another by an amount suflicient to embrace snugly lip 34, thereby forming a water resistant joint between the cover and base sections when they are engaged in a closed condition. The achievement of a water resistant joint is aided by the sloped orientation of the flanges when the container is in the closed condition. In other words, channel 32 opens downwardly at the outer edge of panel 28, as can be seen in the upper portion of FIG. 3. The channel opens downwardly along the hypotenuse edge of side panels 30 because such edges are sloped due to the triangular configuration of the side panels.

For retaining the container in a closed condition the base and cover sections are provided with mutual engageable latch members 40 and 42. Latch members 40 and 42 are approximately mirror images of One another with respect to the center line of the container; only one will be described in detail. Latch 40 has a web 44 joined to base section 12, a main body 46, and an inwardly extending protuberance 48. Because the latch member is formed of flexible material, such as thermoplastic resin, protuberance 48 and its complement on latch member 42 can be easily engaged with and disengaged from each other.

Hingedly attached to the upper region of base section 12 is a handle plate 50. As shown by broken lines in FIG. 3, the hinged ataehment permits the handle to be folded rearwardly and downwardly against rear panel 18 for shipment or storage of the container. The central region of the plate is cut out to define a finger slot '52. A rib 54 is formed along the upper edge of the finger slot to afford comfort to one carrying the container.

Handle plate 50 is provided with mounting holes 56 on opposite sides of finger slot 52. The holes are of invertedkeyhole configuration to permit expeditious engagement with screws 58 that project from a vertical surface 60.

In one container designed according to the present invention, the entire structure is integrally formed of molded thermoplastic resin. Hinged movement of the cover panel with respect to the base panel and of the handle plate with respect to the base panel is achieved by forming areas of reduced thickness along desired lines of hinged movement. Resilience is imparted to fingers 24 by selection of appropriate resins.

In use, the first aid container of this invention is filled by sliding individual packages P into base section 12 between bottom panel 20* and fingers 24. The fingers are so spaced from the bottom panel that they are slightly stressed when the packages are inserted; the packages are thereby retained in place. For easy access, the container is preferably mounted to a vertical surface by an engagement between screws projecting from the surface and mounting holes 56 formed in plate 50. Exemplifying a typical vertical mounting surface is a surface interior of a compartment in a truck of the type used by electricans and telephone repairmen. When cover section 14 is retained closed by interengagement of latch members 40 and 42, packages P are retained in place against vibration. In order to gain access to the contents one need only move cover section 14 to the downward position, as seen in FIG. 1. Because sides 22 of the base are of triangular shape, approximately one half of each package P is exposed. Thus, the individual packages can be conveniently selected and quickly removed. Moreover, the inner surface of panel 28 forms a horizontal surface on which to place temporarily a package P.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, rear panel 18 of base section 12 resides in a plane different from the plane of front panel 26 of cover section 14 when the container is open. Accordingly, the container is unstable if placed on a horizontal surface. Such instability, together with the triangular configuration of side panels 22 and 30, renders the container unsuitable for use as a box for tools, fishing tackle, small parts, and other unauthorized uses. Consequently, the likelihood that the first aid kit is in its expected place is materially increased by the container of the present invention.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious that other adaptations and modifications can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A closable container for first aid supplies comprising a base section and a cover section, said base section including a rear panel, a bottom panel extending normal of said rear panel, and a first pair of triangular side panels, each said side panel having a rear edge attached to said rear panel, a bottom edge attached to said bottom panel and a hypotenuse edge; said cover section including a front panel generally congruent to said rear panel, a top panel extending normal of sa d front panel, and a second pair of triangular side panels joined to the edges of the front and top panels and shaped to define in cooperation with said first pair of triangular side panels a pair of generally rectangular end walls of the container, said second pair of triangular sides having hypotenuse edges that meet the hypotenuse edges of said first pair when the container is in a closed condition, means hingedly joining said edge of said bottom wall that is remote from said top wall so that said base and cover sections can be moved between a relatively closed condition and a relatively opened condition and a plurality of resilient fingers projecting from the interior surface of said rear panel, said fingers being parallel to and spaced from said bottom panel so as to trictionally engage and retain packages of first aid supplies in said container.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said cover section has defined therearound a downwardly opening channel that extends obliquely downward from said top panel of said cover section and wherein said base section has a flange configured for entry into said channel so as to form a water resistance joint when the cover section is closed onto said base section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,582,823 4/1926 Jones 206-12 2,294,006 8/ 1942 Thorsheim 248-311 1,233,206 7/1917 Elbe]. 1,725,211 8/1929 Roser. 2,730,231 1/1956 Ryan 248311 X 2,882,113 4/ 1959 Gantner 248-3 11 X 3,090,271 5/ 1963 Castelli 206--52 X 710,060 9/ 1902 Kann. 2,446,435 8/ 1948 Ritter 29 FOREIGN PATENTS 569,816 6/ 1945 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner its. 01. X.R 220-18, 32 

